Preheater



- May 29, 1923. 1,456,572

J. I; RLICHEY PREHEATER Filed D ec..14. 1921 Patented May 29, 1923.

raters.

JAMES I. RICHEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO;

1 PREHEATER.

Application filed December 14, 1921. Serial No. 522,425;

ful Improvements in Preheaters, of which the following is a specification.

My lHVBIItIOII IBlatGS to devices for heating the charge of an'internal-combustion engine before starting and in the early part of its operation. Its object is to provide a I more simple, more readily installed device 1 ever, being of this eharacten. A further object is to simplify the operation and add to the efiiciency of such devices.- Other objects will appear in the course of the ensuing description.

Iattain these objects byfthe device illustrated, for example, in the accompanying drawing, in which' Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of an internal combustion engine equipped with a devicee'mbodying my invention, the device being represented as with its near side broken away to reveal the interior opera tion;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification, the only parts of the engine disclosed, howthe intake pipe and its carburetor connection;

Fig. 3gis aview corresponding to a section on the transverse plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing another modification;

Fig. 4 isa view correspondingto Fig. 2, showing another modification; i

Fig. 5 is a section on the plane offline I 5-5, Fig. 4; and

' Fig. 6 is a detail plan viewof the cover plate- In the exampleot Fig. 1the preheater comprises a-hollow body 1 formed by two inversely assembled sections 2'and 3 having flanges 4- and 5, respectively, meeting nearly on the median transverse plane of the engine fuel-intake pipe 6, and thus surrounding the lower flanged end part 7, upwardly extending stem 8, and lengthwise extending branches 9 of this pipe. The top part of the body -1 may be understood from Fig. 5,

which example has the same arrangement. Each section 2 and 3has an inturned rim 1O or -11 integral with its main upright wall, and upon these-rims is screwed-a cover plate 12 between'theupright parts 13 01": the pipe branches 9 where they'extend out of the pree e hQllfiJ be rv-i lh fla s se are take" passage.

secured together by small bolts '14 and nuts 15 at intervals, clamping these'parts of the body together. Also, the cover plate 12 has near its opposite ends out near its front pipes 17.

The lower part of the section 2 has a fiat rear wall 18; and centrally of this flat wall 1s an openingto register with the meeting openings of the intake pipe 6 and the carburetor 19 with the surrounding portions of the flat wall between the flanges 20 and 21 of the pipe 6 and the carburetor 19, respectively, with suitable gaskets 22 and 23.1lankmg the wall, so that when the intake pipe and carburetor junction is completed, this to the hollow body, rest snugly along on top of the longitudinal branches 90f the intake pipe. This relation ofthe parts, with the sections 2 and 3 and the cover plate 12 closely embracing the upright parts 13 of the branches, and with the bottom part tightly clamped, between the intake pipe. and car- .buretor flanges 20 and 21, effectively prevents vibration of the device, which is a very important consideration on vehicle engines especially, where the vibration due to the vehicle travel isadded to that of the engine itself.

As'shown inFig; 1, the pocket 24. at the bottom receives a combustible fluid through the opening 25, which may be ignited therethrough; this combustion passing up and around the intake pipe 6 and heating the charge therein so that when the charge reaches the-cylinder it is readily ignited. The pipes 17 lead up and then forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, alongside theexhaust pipe 27 of the engine, the

frontone entering near the forwardmost branch 28 of the exhaust pipe, and the rear one entering the. rear part of the exhaust pipe. preferably to the rear ofthe last one of th ranch s 2, f thisph e. The e pipes edge, openings 16 upwardly from which lead 1 conduct the products of combustion from the interior of the pre-heater hollow body into the exhaust pipe 27 before starting; and

after starting, the engineeXhaustis .led into v the preheater body through the front pipe 17 and then out by the rear pipe 17 intothe exhaust pipe beyond the engine connection, where the passage of the'exhaustracts' inductively to promote and stimulate this "draft of: the engine exhaust through the preheater; continuing: to preheat 'the fuel entering through the inani-fold while the em gine is running This promotion of the draft. by the engine exhaust also 1 is valuable in maintaining the heating eflect ofanycombastionstill-taking place in the pre'heater after" the engine {is "started, thus preventing it-" frorn missing fire in' its early -stages of operation.

f The c'overpl ate12 also has near its-"middle and ne'ar irontan opening 30 closed bya eovfer-"31 -lor pouring fuel in, to run over the manifold. This may be us'edin- 25 stead-of the xopening 25; orthe fuel'm'ay be poured in f at w this top opening, but ignited throughthe lower-opening 25.

i the modi'fication of 'Fig. 2, the" intake pipe '6 h-as the lengthwise branches i)" and upstanding branches 13 but its stem 8' is short, with a downwardly facingflangeQO,

and the carburetor connection comprises the elbow 2'1" with an upper flange meeting the nect with-the carburetor body, notshown in this figure, "but :which will be understood froni* F1g..1.* This is 'an -intake pipe andcarbure'tor arrangement found in some "makes lof engine's. My preheat er body 1" ac oo rdinglyis modified, having the fiat wall of the" previous example absent, but having the flat bottom 18 with the proper opening,

--and fitting between "the pipe and elbow flanges with-the gaskets 22" and 231".Als0,

in' this example, there is but onesection, with afu'l-ly open top similar' to that of my PatentNo. 1,362,353, .issued Deceinbe'r 14,

1920' In this example I {have taken occasion to show another. method of using the combustible I liquid fuel; the hollow. body conheats Wit taining a quantity of sand 32 or similar to raminous'incombustible body, into which a quantity of the :combustible 'liquid'is' poured and i then ignited. "The combustion thus i is slower andsteadier, with the fuel distributed throughouttheinterstices of the sand 32' or the like. It will-be. understood that this method may be used in the examplelof Fig. 1'."

' 'X-In-Figi 3-, the'devieeissimilarto that of Fig; 2- 'in itslower parts, but the" inner wall of thebody 1 has an opening and is clamped between "the upper'end of the fueli ntake pipe 6 and the engine cylinder, with suitable easkets; the same as the bottom eon thelewer en-d'ot the pipe- 6 and .inannprightplane as in Fig.

the "carburetor connection 21'' .thelfintake pipe" 6" of-thisengine taking"th'e form of .an elbow. The body sections do not meet the forms ofthe lower main body part 2' andthe top part 3', meeting in a horizontal plane entirely above the intake pipe 6",. with flanges 4: and '5', respectively, secured together by the small bolts 14 and 15 at intervals around the four-j sides of thefi-struetune. It" will be -understood"-that the-carburetor connection hereis 1 the same: as that of 'Eig.'-2, with 'the elbow '21" meeting lihe bot-tom flange of-the intake pipe6 and l 1 but take ins hid-

imaia bi b-ranches',' the j-un'etion' 'of the sections 2' and 3." is entire'ly above them. i In "this example, the body contains a body of hot water pourechirito it through athe neck 30 {in the middle of the top part3 sim ilarto that in Fig. 1, to heat intake pipe =6Qand the?fitel' charge passing therethro'u'gh whenz'starting the engine. The Wate'r -"-is dpained o'if throughthecock 133 afterfiiits': heat has been utilized.fWith elear watefith-isdraining is p a necessary preeautlon in" freezing" weather;

but anti-freezing mixturesmay be used; For instance, a} 5 quantity bf the anti-freezing substance can= -be placed in} the preheatefl to be absorbedby successive-charges iOfrllOt water until depleted. i

F 'InFigs: land fithepreheat-ei' bod-y 1 is formed of inversely--arranged seetionsQifflnd 3 meeting in an up right plane f w-am *of the": fuel-intake pipe '6"; with"bolted together and gasketed fianges4 ,*5 l l and 15*,siini-fi lar' to thos e bf Fig. 1; but" the lower arrangement is. like that of Figs. Q andfikandftlie parts thereof are correspondinglynumbered.

The device, of this. example is shown 151s filled withhotwater; ;but"it"will berunder- Stood: that it may be 'usedas the assess-"ti Rigs; 1 and 2; res-pectively-,-'with oip withont the fines 1790f "Fig." 1; a1 burning fuel-in their-body. 1 t

' a yat the examples is :very--'-freaelly v stamped and pressed .1mm sheet"; metal, which makes them I economical to 'prbdiiee. At thesamei't'ime', they are reii'di'ly as's'eiiibled and: installed on the-"engine's byipersons' 0f little"m-eehanicalskill; and tlie n ieth use'are-simple and ea ii amderstoe by engine users, and-not'dangeious; the -deVlfie made "of -relativelymetal, if the hotWatenLmet'hed the; water-*is left emits engine- 1s for *a-* ivhile*k?in'*"freezjings-tempemw ed oi yielding walls of the preheater body absorb the expansion of the freezing water, without cracking, as cast-iron containers do, and without causing breakage of the intake-pipe, which usually is of cast-iron.

I have disclosed numerous examples of the application of my invention to different engines, or for different methods of heating; but other modifications may occur under varying conditions of engine design or use. Therefore, while certain constructional details are deemed preferable in connection with my invention, and these have been specifically disclosed herein, as is required,

I do not wish to be understood as being limited to such precise showing and description, but what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A preheater comprising a hollow body to surround an internal-combustion-engine fuel-intake pipe and having a part to be clamped between said pipe and an adjacent connected part.

2. A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections forming a hollow body to surround an internal combustion engine fuel-intake pipe and having a part to be clamped between said pipe and an adjacent connected part.

3. A preheater comprising a hollow body to surround an internal-combustion-engine fuel-intake pipe, having an upper part with distinct openings whereby said part embraces distinct upwardly extending branches of said pipe, and having a part to be clamped between said pipe and an adjacent connected art.

p l. A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections forming a hollow body to surround an internal combustion engine fuel-intake pipe, having an upper part with distinct openings whereby said part embraces distinct upwardly extending branches of said pipe, and havinga part to be clamped between said pipe and an adjacent connected part.

5. A preheater comprising a hollow body to surround an internal-combustion-engine fuel-intake pipe, having an upper part with distinct openings whereby said part embraces distinct upwardly extending branches of said pipe and lies closely along and against lengthwise top parts of said pipe, and having a part to be clamped between said pipe and an adjacent connected part.

6.'A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections forming a hollow body to surround an internal combustion engine fuel-intake pipe and having a part to be clamped between said pipe and an adjacent connected part, said sections meeting substantially in an upright plane.

7. A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections with meeting flanges clamped together, forming a hollow body to surround and extend over an internal-combustion-engine fuel-intake pipe with part of said body against said intake pipe and another part of said body rigidly clamped between said intake pipe and an adjacent connected part.

8. A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections with meeting flanges clamped together, forming a hollow body to surround an internal-combustionengine fuel-intake pipe and with part of said body rigidly clamped between said intake pipe and an adjacent connected part.

9. A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections with meeting flanges clamped together, forming a hollow body to surround and extend over an internal-com bustion-engine fuel-intake pipe, with the over-extending part of said body against said intake pipe and a lower part of said body rigidly clamped between said intake pipe and an adjacent connected part.

10. A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections forming a hollow body to surround an internal-combustion-engine fuel-intake pipe, having an upper part with an elongated opening whereby said part embraces distinct upwardly extending branches of said pipe, and a cover to lie closely along and against lengthwise top parts of said pipe, between said branches.

11. A preheater comprising inversely assembled sections forming a hollow body to surround an internal-combustion-engine fuel-intake pipe, having an upper part with an elongated opening whereby said part embraces distinct upwardly extending branches of said pipe, and having a part to be clamped between said pipe and an adjacent connected part, said sections meeting substantially in an upright plane transverse to said lengthwise part of said pipe, and a cover to lie closely along and against lengthwise parts of said pipe, between said branches, over said elongated opening.

12. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a fuel-intake pipe and an exhaust pipe, a preheater comprising a hollow body to surround said fuel-intake pipe, and a plurality of combustion-productoutlet pipes leading from the upper part of said body into said engine exhaust pipe at opposite sides of a final one of a plurality of branches of said exhaust pipe, whereby passage of the engine exhaust acts inductively at one of said combustion-productoutlet pipes to stimulate a draft of part of the engine exhaust through said hollow body after the engine is started.

JAMES I. RICHEY. 

